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My issue is that for such an amazing technical mid/outwear piece this makes no sense to me. Basically you have two hand-warmers without zips (the left hand one having a neat key clip/tether inside) much like a casual hoody would have. The hand-warmer pockets are the design element that I found particularly strange and I really can’t fathom what is going on here. The zipper could do with being a good 5cm longer for my tastes. The chest pocket is a decent size but the zippered entry is a bit too narrow for my liking, again even with a light glove on it’s a snug entrance, with my normal light leading gloves it’s a no go. Moving onto the pockets the Ascendant Hoody has two hand-warmers and a chest pocket. At the cuff there are simple binding thumb loops though I found these a little snug and only really usable with bare hands or the lightest of gloves. If you look inside the shoulders you will notice that there are two patches of Pertex® microlight inside, these help the shoulders of the hoody ‘glide’ over base-layers and prevent that binding sensation you sometimes get when layering multiple fleece garments up. Shoulder lining and thumb loops all contribute to a great hoody. The cut of the Hoody is just right for me, nice and slim, no bagginess and long enough to stay tucked under a harness without issue.

Lets start at the top: the hood is a nice simple low profile affair with a minimalist volume adjuster at the rear which comfortably fits under a helmet.To my surprise it also fits over a helmet very effectively and without any ‘compression’ or interference with head movements thanks to the design and elastic nature of the materials. There has clearly been a lot of thought put into the design though there is one design decision that I find somewhat odd. A great hood that fits under or over (most) helmets.Ĭonstructed from Polartec® Alpha Direct® and a Pertex® Microlight stretch woven shell this Ascendant hoody is both extremely breathable, super light, and surprisingly warm. I saw an earlier version of the Ascendant Hoody at KORS back in July 2017 and was excited to try out the updated version for the winter. OR’s Ascendant Hoody builds on their previous ‘Uberlayer Jacket’ but has been designed to be lighter and more breathable.

A super light hoody utilising the amazing Polartec Alpha Direct, the Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoody has become my mid-layer of choice despite a couple of minor flaws. And if you’re looking for a jacket that’s slightly heavier and a bit less breathable, Outdoor Research’s Uberlayer is also on sale and is even cheaper ( $173) than the Ascendant.Almost the best mid-layer come soft-shell I’ve ever used. If you’ve been eyeing up one of Outdoor Research’s award-winning jackets with active insulation, now’s your chance as the Ascendant is currently 25 percent off at Backcountry.

Aside from the benefits of keeping one in your kit year-round, summer is also the best time to score deals on some of the year’s finest outerwear. You might be asking why we’d even bother talking about an insulated jacket in the dead of summer. It’s incredibly packable and fits well underneath a shell while you take those deep blower turns you hiked up for in the first place. The jacket insulates your body only where it needs it - so, less sweaty back - while also shedding wind. The outer shell is constructed from breathable and stretchy Pertex that is also highly water resistant. The insulation sits directly on whatever you’re wearing underneath the jacket. It utilizes Polartec Alpha Direct insulation, which has no liner. The Ascendants is a game changer when it comes to active insulation. Even in the cold, ascents are fated to be sweaty endeavors, especially when you’re wearing a loaded pack. Outdoor Research’s Ascendant jacket lessens the price you pay on the way up. You still have to get to the top before that reward can be reaped. And like most endurance activities, it is, to a certain extent - but in touring, the pain only increases the feeling of reward when your bindings are locked and the only direction left to go is down. Unless you’ve done it, ski touring could seem like a practice in misery.